ABB, VRA partner to build expertise for power sector

August 3, 2017125 Views

ABB, a pioneering leader in electrification products, robotics and motion as well as industrial automation and power grids, has entered a two-year capacity building partnership with the Volta River Authority (VRA).

The deal will see former offering power and automation training and allied technical assistance to engineers, trainers and trainees at the VRA Academy over the contract period.

It will also enable the two institutions to draw from each other’s strength to build the much needed expertise to bridge the competence gap in the country’s power sector and also position the VRA Academy as the hub of capacity building in the sub-region.

The signing of the MoU reaffirms ABB’s commitment to develop and transfer its know-how and knowledge towards enhancing the awareness of the latest technology in power and automation fields in the countries it operates.

Managing Director of ABB in Ghana, Hesham Tehemer, indicated at the signing of the MoU in Accra: “ABB is always looking for collaboration opportunities to facilitate knowledge transfer; by this partnership, our technical expertise will be put in the hands of Ghana’s largest utility company.

We fully understand Ghana’s power challenges and we are here to make sure that VRA meet its energy and industrial development goals.”

VRA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Services), Richmond Evans-Appiah, commended the strong relations between the two institutions that has culminated in the new partnership.

He expressed optimism that the new deal will empower the VRA Academy to live up to its vision of becoming the centre of training for utilities within the West African sub-region.

He indicated: “Over the years, the VRA has forged strong collaboration with sister utilities providers across the region to foster capacity building…the academy is considered as one of the centres of excellence for the provision of cutting edge training to power utilities within the West African sub-region.

It is our vision that this training partnership will strengthen the capacity of the VRA Academy to live up to its responsibility of being the training centre of choice in West Africa. It will also empower the academy to translate into it vision of transforming power generation, transmission and distribution and power trading initiatives through capacity building.”